The Hull Maritime Museum is reopening this weekend with immersive galleries and a new planetarium following a £20.4 million transformation.
More than 8,000 visitors have booked free tickets for the museum's opening month, with all timed-entry slots for the first weekend booked up.
One of Britain's oldest maritime museums, the institution is reopening after a six-year redevelopment that has restored the city's restored former Dock Offices.
The project was funded Hull City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Hull Maritime Museum is reopening this weekend following a six-year, £20.4 million transformation
Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: "This museum has been cherished by generations of residents and visitors, and the transformation has created something truly special that honours its remarkable heritage while bringing it firmly into the future."
Eilish McGuinness, chief executive at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Not only will visitors be captivated by the significant collections of the museum, comprising of around 1,300 artefacts, they will be able to take in the striking beauty of the Grade II-listed building and its stunning architecture, which has been preserved as part of the project."
Through immersive galleries and interactive experiences, visitors will explore more than 800 years of maritime history.
The project has doubled the museum's public space and displays around 1,300 objects, including Erik the polar bear and the 40-foot skeleton of a North Atlantic right whale.
More than 8,000 visitors have booked free tickets for the Hull Maritime Museum's opening month
Visitors can crawl beneath the whale skeleton, lift the weight of a traditional harpoon, navigate using a compass, and operate a steam engine model.
Additionally, an immersive experience in the new planetarium recreates the night sky above Hull and the northern hemisphere, revealing the constellations that guided ships across the world's oceans.
"The response ahead of opening has been incredible and reflects the affection people have for Hull Maritime Museum," said Gillian Osgerby, Hull City Council’s project director for the wider Hull Maritime development.
"Over the past six years, we've worked hard to transform the museum into a world-class visitor experience while preserving everything that makes it so special."
Images courtesy of Hufton + Crow Photography
